What Now for the 200?

by Miriam Hanna, Director at MadlinHanna Consulting

Over the last few weeks, we have seen the downfall of one of the giants of the PR industry, Bell Pottinger. My colleague Warren wrote last month about how they should try to cope internally with the process of the investigation. The decision passed by the PRCA last week has resulted in an exodus of clients and staff so this week it was announced that the firm was going into administration. Whilst there is absolutely a need for keeping the PR industry in check and ensuring ethical practice, it would be unfair to tarnish all Bell Pottinger’s 200 employees with the same brush.

In my experience, the calibre from Bell Pottinger has always been high. The team are well trained; have a good generalist approach which makes them agile and versatile; and have experience working on a very impressive client base. Within a very short space of time, these talented and hard working professionals have found themselves redundant and in direct competition with their colleagues to secure their next role.

I posted yesterday in a bid to spread some reassurance but I know that it is easy for me to sit here, safe in a job, and tell people to not panic. Rent, mortgages, family commitments will not wait! However, the process of going on a job search needs to be well thought through whatever the reason for embarking on it.

Panic stations

First thing, don’t panic. The wider industry has already and will continue to send out the lifeboats. Take a step back, think about what kind of business you will be happy in and focus your search. Treat yourself as the valuable commodity you are. Interview with those businesses you seriously feel are contenders for your career and only those. Don’t go for meetings just for “interview practice”. You will secure the right thing far quicker.

Stick to your value

Any potential employer trying to take a sinister advantage of your situation needs to be discounted from the off. Know your value salary-wise and stick to it. They aren’t doing you a favour by offering you a job. You will bring a lot to their business and that is the mindset you need to be in during interviews.

Accepting a role

Finally, when you accept an offer, it must be a decision you will stick to. Cancel any other meetings and inform them you have secured something. Rescinding a decision is not an option in a small industry where news travels fast. If you are accepting an offer with a view to continuing interviewing, you aren’t actually happy about joining that firm so you shouldn’t accept in the first place!

Take a deep breath and know that in a month’s time you will look back on what’s happened and put it down to life experience. 

MadlinHanna Consulting is a recruitment consultancy specialising in corporate affairs, covering public affairs, corporate communications and financial PR. Contact us on 020 8088 4102 for more information or a confidential conversation.